Buffalo Neuroimaging Analysis Center

What Buffalo Neuroimaging Analysis Center does

Buffalo Neuroimaging Analysis Center (BNAC) is a non-profit academic research center within the University at Buffalo's Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, founded in 2000 and operating as a specialized neuroimaging core laboratory for neurological disease research with a primary focus on multiple sclerosis. BNAC provides Clinical Core Lab Services (project management, imaging charter development, site qualification, image acquisition protocols, quality control, and radiology review) and Preclinical Core Lab Services (animal model studies, behavioral testing, histology, immunology) to pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical-device sponsors conducting trials in MS, Parkinson's, stroke, Alzheimer's, and related conditions, collaborating with 450 research/lab centers across 60 countries. The center has supported over 100 clinical trials, secured more than $50 million in cumulative funding from sponsors and agencies including the NIH and U.S. Department of Defense, and produced over 500 peer-reviewed publications with more than 30,000 citations.

Technology is built around advanced quantitative MRI methods (Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping, Deepole, Oxygen Extraction Fraction mapping, iron imaging) combined with proprietary AI tools including DeepGRAI for thalamic volume measurement on routine clinical MRI and NeuroSTREAM for lesion and ventricle volumetry, all supported by ISO 9001:2015 certification and SOPs compliant with CFR-21 Part 11, ICH, FDA/EMA, and GCP standards. Revenue is generated through multi-year, quote-based professional services contracts with pharmaceutical and biotech sponsors (Bristol-Myers Squibb, Novartis, Sanofi, Biogen, Genentech/Roche, EMD Serono/Merck, Janssen, Mapi Pharma) and medical-device manufacturers (Protembis, Filterlex), supplemented by NIH and Department of Defense research grants and private foundation donations. Director Robert Zivadinov, MD, PhD, leads a multidisciplinary team of approximately 50 faculty, staff, students, and fellows, operating from a new 2023 headquarters at UB's Downtown Gateway Building and the Center for Biomedical Imaging, which houses a Philips MR 7700 3T MRI scanner.

Name

Buffalo Neuroimaging Analysis Center

Legal name

Buffalo Neuroimaging Analysis Center

Website

https://bnac.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

BNAC is a University at Buffalo academic core laboratory providing AI-enabled MRI analysis services for clinical and preclinical trials in multiple sclerosis and other neurological diseases, serving major pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical-device sponsors globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Neuroimaging Core Lab Services

NAICS

Medical Laboratories (621511), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Services-Medical Laboratories (8071), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Clinical Research & Trial Central Laboratories (HLAFAMAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

AI Orchestration & Imaging Analytics Platforms (Model Management/Triage) (HLACALAG), SaMD – Imaging & Signal Analysis (AI/ML) (HLACANAG), Medical Imaging AI (HDAAAEAH)

Keywords

• Neuroimaging analysis services
• MRI core lab
• Clinical trial imaging
• Multiple sclerosis research
• Quantitative neuroimaging

Headquarters

HQ city

Buffalo

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Clinical Core Lab Services: BNAC provides comprehensive medical imaging clinical core lab services including project management, imaging charter development, site qualification training, quality control, and radiology review for pharmaceutical companies and research sponsors conducting clinical trials
2. Preclinical Core Lab Services: Preclinical core lab services including overall leadership, project design and management, housing and induction of preclinical models, behavioral testing, image acquisition and analysis protocols, immunology and histology examinations
3. Government and Private Research Grants: Funding secured from National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Defense, and private foundations for investigator-initiated and sponsored research

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Buffalo Neuroimaging Analysis Center (BNAC) operates as a clinical and preclinical core laboratory providing quantitative MRI neuroimaging analysis services for pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device clinical trials, primarily focused on multiple sclerosis and other neurological diseases. The center delivers comprehensive services including imaging charter development, site qualification training, image acquisition protocols, quality control, radiology review, and biomarker analysis using proprietary AI-powered tools (DeepGRAI, NeuroSTREAM) and novel MRI techniques (QSM, IRONMAP, Deepole). BNAC also conducts investigator-initiated translational research funded by NIH, the U.S. Department of Defense, and private foundations.

Product overview

BNAC is a neuroimaging analysis center providing clinical and preclinical core lab services for medical imaging clinical trials in neurological diseases. The organization offers Clinical Core Lab Services (imaging charter development, site qualification, quality control, radiology review) and Preclinical Core Lab (animal model studies, behavioral testing, histology). Key software products include NeuroSTREAM and DeepGRAI (AI-powered MRI analysis tools for MS progression assessment), IRONMAP (brain iron tracking), and proprietary MRI techniques like QSM and Deepole. The center also conducts translational research and provides education/training programs for neuroimaging researchers and fellows. Research focuses primarily on multiple sclerosis with additional work in Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, stroke, and other neurological conditions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CASA-MS: Comprehensive Assessment of Severely Affected Multiple Sclerosis - a study focused on severely affected MS patients comparing them to those with milder disease progression.
• NeuroSTREAM
• DeepGRAI
• Deepole
• IRONMAP

Products and services

• Clinical Core Lab Services Comprehensive medical imaging clinical core lab services for pharmaceutical and biotech sponsors conducting clinical trials in neurological diseases. Services include overall leadership, project management, imaging charter development, image acquisition protocols, imaging site qualification training and management, patient scan transfer and quality control, and radiology review. Supports all four phases of clinical trials, device trials, and translational research.
• Preclinical Core Lab Services Preclinical research services including overall leadership, project design and management, housing and induction of preclinical models, behavioral testing, image acquisition and analysis protocol creation and execution, immunology and histology examinations, and quality control. Used by pharmaceutical sponsors for translational research in neurological disease models.
• NeuroSTREAM Open-source software co-developed by BNAC scientists for analyzing routine clinical T2-FLAIR MRI scans to assess multiple sclerosis progression markers, including salient central brain lesion volume and lateral ventricle volume. Designed for use in clinical routine settings to enable multi-site analysis.
• DeepGRAI (Deep Gray Rating via Artificial Intelligence) AI algorithm that measures thalamic volume using routine clinical MRI (T2-FLAIR) scans across multiple centers, generating reliable measurements from imperfect clinical data. Thalamic volume is an established marker for multiple sclerosis disease progression.
• IRONMAP Novel tool developed by BNAC for tracking brain iron changes in multiple sclerosis patients, part of the center's iron imaging research program focused on deep gray matter iron and MS progression.
• CASA-MS Study Comprehensive Assessment of Severely Affected Multiple Sclerosis research study investigating biomarkers and disease differences in severely disabled MS patients compared to those with slower disease progression, in collaboration with The Boston Home, Jacobs MS Center, and University of Basel.
• Education and Training Programs Educational services including research experiences for undergraduate and graduate students at the University at Buffalo's Neuroscience Department, MRI fellowships (6-36 months) for visiting scholars and clinicians, and mentorship of PhD, MSc, MD, and postdoctoral researchers in neuroimaging.
• Translational Research Services Academic research services focused on translational use of quantitative neuroimaging metrics in neurological diseases and disorders including multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's, and stroke, supported by over 500 peer-reviewed publications.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 500 peer-reviewed publications with more than 30,000 citations
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Bristol-Myers SquibbcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term scientific collaboration spanning 20+ years. BNAC has conducted clinical trials and scientific collaborations with Bristol-Myers Squibb in multiple sclerosis research. VP Global Medical Head - Neurology Dr. Diego G. Silva stated the team consistently demonstrates passion for innovation through publications and expert forums.
• NovartiscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClinical trial partnership including studies on siponimod using Theiler's Murine Encephalomyelitis virus model of chronic demyelination. Collaboration on preclinical and clinical programs in MS.
• SanoficoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMS research collaboration including podcast on EBV in MS featuring BNAC Director Robert Zivadinov. Dr. Zivadinov discussed what MRI tells us about EBV in MS on Sanofi Genzyme's podcast.
• Genentech (Roche)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClinical trials collaboration including ocrelizumab studies examining leptomeningeal inflammation and humoral response to Epstein-Barr Virus in multiple sclerosis.
• EMD SeronocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClinical trial partnerships in multiple sclerosis research through the Merck Group family of companies.
• Merck GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSenior Medical Director Davorka Tomic stated BNAC's capacity to conduct projects is multi-faceted and unique, addressing critical questions in drug development and neuroimaging through preclinical and clinical explorations.
• BiogencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClinical trial partnerships in multiple sclerosis research.
• PhilipscoreTechnology or IntegrationMedical imaging technology partnership. BNAC installed a Philips MR 7700 3T MRI scanner - one of the world's most advanced scanners - in the Center for Biomedical Imaging.
• JanssencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClinical trial partnerships in neurological disease research.
• ProtembisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevice trial partnership for studying embolic brain lesions in TAVR procedures.
• FilterlexminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevice trial partnership for neurovascular research.
• Mapi PharmacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCore MRI Lab partnership for clinical trial services.
• The Boston HomecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on CASA-MS study comparing severely affected MS patients with less disabled patients. The Boston Home is a specialized residential facility in Boston for individuals with advanced progressive neurological disorders including MS.
• Jacobs MS Center for Treatment and ResearchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership within the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences for MS research including CASA-MS study comparing severely affected MS patients.
• University of Basel (Prof. Jens Kuhle)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration on CASA-MS study including blood-based biomarker analysis for axonal damage assessment.
• Wayne State University (Prof. E. Mark Haacke)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMR imaging laboratory collaboration on multiple sclerosis projects including cerebral microbleeds studies and iron content measurements. Led to more than a dozen joint publications and abstracts.
• Sydney Neuroimaging Analysis CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on NeuroSTREAM-MSBase study using the largest MRI real-world multiple sclerosis dataset studied to date.
• MSBasecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational collaboration on NeuroSTREAM-MSBase registry study analyzing disability progression in real-world MS dataset.
• North American Imaging in Multiple Sclerosis (NAIMS) CooperativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-site reproducibility study of lateral ventricular volume using the NAIMS cooperative pilot dataset.
• Kessler FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on cross-sectional study examining associations among aerobic fitness, cognitive processing speed, and walking endurance in individuals with thalamic atrophy.
• NeurologyLivecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBNAC joined NeurologyLive Strategic Alliance Partnership program, a multimedia platform providing healthcare professionals with expert-driven neurology news and insights.
• Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCMSC awarded pilot research grant to study relationship between brain structure and cognitive performance in elderly MS patients.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Medpace: Mid-sized CRO with imaging capabilities supporting CNS trials; competes for sponsor imaging endpoint work alongside specialized core labs like BNAC.
• Bioclinica (now part of Clario): Historically a major imaging core lab for CNS and oncology trials; now under Clario, it represents a larger incumbent offering imaging services for the same MS and neurology trial market BNAC serves.
• ICON plc: Large global CRO with dedicated medical imaging services for clinical trials; competes with BNAC for multi-center neurology imaging endpoint contracts.
• Clario: Global clinical trial technology and imaging core lab serving pharma and biotech across all therapeutic areas; offers full-service imaging endpoints that overlap with BNAC's core lab for neurology trials.
• Invicro: Imaging CRO providing PET, MRI, and AI-based imaging biomarkers for clinical trials in neuroscience and oncology; an adjacent incumbent in pharma trial imaging services.
• Calyx (formerly Parexel Imaging): Imaging and clinical trial technology provider offering independent review and image management for CNS and other trials; comparable in imaging core lab services for pharma sponsors.

Direct peers

• IXICO: UK-based neuroimaging analytics company providing AI-driven MRI biomarkers for clinical trials in MS, Alzheimer's, and Huntington's disease; competes directly with BNAC in pharma trial imaging endpoints.
• Sydney Neuroimaging Analysis Centre: Australian neuroimaging core lab providing MRI analysis for MS and neurology clinical trials; explicitly cited by BNAC as a research collaborator and operates the same core lab business model for pharma sponsors.
• NeuroRx Research: Canadian neuroimaging core laboratory specializing in MRI analytics for MS and neurodegenerative disease clinical trials, with a similar academic-affiliated, sponsor-services business model.

Emerging players

• Cerveau Technologies: Provider of tau PET imaging biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease trials; an emerging specialist whose neurology imaging biomarker focus overlaps with BNAC's neurodegenerative disease pipeline.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/BNAC.net
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/buffalo-neuroimaging-analysis-center

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Buffalo Neuroimaging Analysis Center